Optimal Placement of Pressure Sensors Using Fuzzy DEMATEL-Based Sensor Influence

Abstract

Nowadays, optimal sensor placement (OSP) for leakage detection in water distribution networks is a lively field of research, and a challenge for water utilities in terms of network control, management, and maintenance. How many sensors to install and where to install them are crucial decisions to make for those utilities to reach a trade-off between efficiency and economy. In this paper, we address the where-to-install-them part of the OSP through the following elements: nodes’ sensitivity to leakage, uncertainty of information, and redundancy through conditional entropy maximisation. We evaluate relationships among candidate sensors in a network to get a picture of the mutual influence among the nodes. This analysis is performed within a multi-criteria decision-making approach: specifically, a herein proposed variant of DEMATEL, which uses fuzzy logic and builds comparison matrices derived from information obtained through leakage simulations of the network. We apply the proposal first to a toy example to show how the approach works, and then to a real-world case study.

Smart Urban Water Networks: Solutions, Trends and Challenges

“…However, it is challenging to find a suitable location for such sensors to gain the maximum benefit, while considering budget and other constraints. In [13] the optimal placement of pressure sensors in water distribution systems was investigated by considering the nodal sensitivity to leakage, data uncertainties and node entropy in order to cover a maximum area by a sensor. The authors successfully showed the application of their approach to a benchmark system and also to a real-world case study.…”

Pressure and Water Quality Integrated Sensor Placement Considering Leakage and Contamination Intrusion within Water Distribution Systems

“…In light of this, some researchers have employed optimization algorithms to mitigate these time-consuming calculations. Genetic algorithms (GAs) are commonly used in WDSs. − Pressure sensors can be successfully deployed using a cost–benefit function through a GA, which significantly improves the placement of sensors in uncertain conditions. , Contamination warning systems are widely used to detect contaminant intrusion in water systems . The two-level GA model is presented to prevent contamination events through the placement of sensors .…”

“…15−18 Pressure sensors can be successfully deployed using a cost−benefit function through a GA, which significantly improves the placement of sensors in uncertain conditions. 19,20 Contamination warning systems are widely used to detect contaminant intrusion in water systems. 21 The two-level GA model is presented to prevent contamination events through the placement of sensors.…”

Pressure Sensor Placement for Leak Localization Using Simulated Annealing with Hyperparameter Optimization

“…Some of them consider metaheuristic such as genetic algorithms [9], [10] or particle swarm optimization [11]. Other works are focused on minimizing the error in the leak detection based on the information theory [4], evolutionary algorithms [12], decision-making techniques, such as DEMATEL combined with fuzzy logic [13], among others. Recently, some works propose multi-target sensor placement algorithms to minimize both the error in leak detection and the error in leak localization [14], [15].…”